Graham Turner in a Flight Centre agency.
26 MAY: The last 12 months have been good ones for Graham Turner. The personal wealth of the Flight Centre boss increased at a rate of about $1.5m a week, if you believe figures published today by business magazine BRW.
The publication’s annual list of the nation’s 200 richest individuals puts Mr Turner’s worth at $446m - up $81m from last year’s figure of $365m.
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BRW says he has a 17% shareholding in the group, which has seen its share price increase 20% over the 12 months.
The magazine also notes Mr Turner’s involvement in the accommodation industry via the Spicers chain of boutique rural retreats, run by his wife Jude.
That business isn’t yet turning a profit, BRW says, but claims Mr Turner is "bullish" about its prospects over the coming year.
The Rich 200 list once again also carries the names of two other Flight Centre founders, Bill James and Geoff Harris.
The personal wealth of Mr Harris is estimated at $536m - up $84 from last year’s figure of $452m.
Mr Harris stood down as a director of Flight Centre in 2008, but is still a director of Top Deck Travel UK.
Mr James has seen his net worth increase from $400m to $443m over the past year, according to BRW.
He ended his day-to-day involvement with Flight Centre in 1996, but retains a 13% shareholding.
